Thumb-sucking preventer



Patented Jan. 5, 1926.

, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THUMB-SUCKING PREVENTER.

Application filed February 25, 1924. Serial No. 694,965.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that Annie L. HARRisoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thumb- Sucking Preventers, of which the following is a specilication.

My invention is an improved thumb sucking preventer' particularly applicable to infants to prevent them from sucking the lingers.

The object of my invention is to provide a tube with suitable means to secure it to the side of the finger, and through which air is drawn as the child attempts to suck the linger, thus discouraging the child in its attempt, and breaking it of an injurious habit.

Obviously a multiplicity of ways may be employed to secure the tube to the finger, and in the drawing I have illustrated the preferred form, but in this application I desire to cover my invention in whatever form it may be embodied.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my guard secu-red to the thumb of an infant.

Figure 2 is a plan view of my guard.

Figure 3 is a side view of the same.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a slightly modilied form of my invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, a flexible tube l, which is preferably formed of rubber tubing, is secured to the thumb or finger of the infant. A ring 2 is secured to the tube l adjacent the upper end thereof, and the finger extends through said ring as shown.

This ring may be secured'to the tube in any desired way, such as vulcanizing or molding the ring upon the tube. A strap 3 is secured to the tube l adjacent the lower end thereof, and a buckle Il enables the strap to be secured about the arm of the infant. This strap may also be vulcanized or molded upon the tube, or otherwise suitably secured thereto.

In the modified form shown in Figure 4 the ring 5 encircles the tube l and 1s secured thereto by vulcanizing a strip 6 over said ring and upon the tube. The strap 7 is secured to the lower part of the tube and is tied about the wrist of the wearer. The lingeris slipped through the ring 2 or 5 and the strap 3 or 7 is secured to the arm. Thus the tube l is secured adjacent the finger of the infant.

Then the infant attempts to suck the linger air is drawn through the tube, which discourages the habit.

yThe tube l being flexible gives absolute freedom to the hand and enables the child to play or move its lingers as desired.

Having described my invention, I claim:

l. A thumb sucking preventer comprising a tube and means to secure said tube to the side of the finger whereby air is drawn through the tube in the sucking of the finger.

2. A thumb sucking preventer comprising a flexible tube, and means to secure said tube to the side of the finger whereby air is drawn through the tube in the sucking of the finger.

3. A thumb sucking preventer comprising a tube adapted to lit alongside a linger, a ring secured to said tube and adapted to encircle the linger, and a strap secured to said tube and adapted to encircle the arm, said tube allowing air to be sucked there through.

4. A thumb sucking preventer comprising a tube adapted to tit alongside a linger, a

ADRIA L. HARRISON. 

